A transcript of a dramatic exchange between the captain of the Costa Concordia and the coastguard reveals that the captain had already abandoned ship long before passengers had been evacuated from the listing vessel. Picture: Getty

A transcript of a conversation between the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship and a coastguard, translated from the original Italian by Reuters news agency, reveals that the captain was prepared to abandon ship while passengers were still aboard the listing vessel. Captain Francesco Schettino is censured by coastguard Gregorio De Falco for being unable to determine the number of passengers on board, including the dead.

Captain: Good evening, Chief De Falco.

Coastguard: Tell me your name, please.

Captain: I am Captain Schettino, chief.

Coastguard: Schettino?

Captain: Yes.

Coastguard: Listen, Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now, you go with your lifeboat. Under the bow of the ship, on the right side, there is a ladder. You climb on that ladder and go on board the ship. Go on board the ship and get back to me and tell me how many people are there. Is that clear. I am recording this conversation, Captain Schettino.

Coastguard: Speak up! (captain tries to speak) Captain, put your hand over the microphone and speak in a louder voice!

Captain: At this moment the ship is listing.

Coastguard: There are people who are coming down the ladder on the bow. Go back in the opposite direction, get back on the ship, and tell me how many people there are and what they have on board. Tell me if there are children, women and what type of help they need. And you tell me the number of each of these categories. Is that clear?

Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board!

(Noise can be heard in the background. Apparently other Coast Guard officers are shouting to each other in the same room about “the ship, the ship”)

Captain: Please ...

Coastguard: There is no ‘please’ about it. Get back on board. Assure me you are going back on board!

Captain: I’m in a lifeboat, I am under here. I am not going anywhere. I am here.

Coastguard: What are you doing, captain?

Captain: I am here to coordinate the rescue...

Coastguard: (interrupting): What are you coordinating there! Get on board! Coordinate the rescue from on board! Are you refusing?

Captain: No, I am not refusing.

Coastguard: Are you refusing to go aboard, captain? Tell me the reason why you are not going back on board.

Captain: (inaudible)... there is a another lifeboat...

Coast Guard (interrupting, yelling): You get back on board! That is an order! There is nothing else for you to consider. You have sounded the “Abandon Ship”. Now I am giving the orders. Get back on board. Is that clear? Don’t you hear me?

Captain: I am going aboard.

Coastguard: Go! Call me immediately when you are on board. My rescue people are in front of the bow.

Captain: Where is your rescue craft?

Coastguard: My rescue craft is at the bow. Go! There are already bodies, Schettino. Go!

Captain: How many bodies are there?

Coastguard: I don’t know! ... Christ, you should be the one telling me that!

Captain: Do you realise that it is dark and we can’t see anything?

Coastguard: So, what do you want to do, to go home, Schettino?! It’s dark and you want to go home? Go to the bow of the ship where the ladder is and tell me what needs to be done, how many people there are, and what they need! Now!

Captain: My second in command is here with me.

Coastguard: Then both of you go! Both of you! What is the name of your second in command?

Captain: His name is Dmitri (static)”

Coastguard: What is the rest of his name? (static) You and your second in command get on board now! Is that clear?

Captain: Look, chief, I want to go aboard but the other lifeboat here has stopped and is drifting. I have called ...

Coastguard: (interrupting): You have been telling me this for an hour! Now, go aboard! Get on board, and tell me immediately how many people there are!